Conservation Commission contract for VSP Funding

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�ttiq STAY'g ��.+ d yll Cyt mKa STATE OF WASHINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION PO Box 47721 + Olympia, Washington 98504-7721 • (360) 407-6200 + FAX (360) 407-6215 October 23, 2015 The Honorable Gary Berndt Kittitas County Commissioner 205 W 5th Ave, Suite 108 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Re: Implementation of the Voluntary Stewardship Program Dear Commissioner Berndt, OCT 2 9 2015 BOARD 0;_L'�r�✓If��l During the last legislative session the state legislature provided funding for the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP). As a county who opted -in to the VSP, I'm writing to formally notify you funding is now available to your county for implementation of the VSP. The VSP statute requires several actions by the county once funding is made available. (See RCW 36.70A.715(1) for more information.) Within 60 days of the date of this letter, your county must: (a) Acknowledge the receipt of funds; and (b) Designate a watershed group and an entity to administer the funds for each watershed for which funding has been provided. Please note these funds are made available for all watersheds in your county. The term "receipt of funds" is defined in the VSP statute as: "...the date a county takes legislative action accepting any funds as required in RCW 36.70A.715(1) to implement the program." Typically this will take the form of county legislative action to approve signing the VSP contract with the Conservation Commission. The latest date on the contract will be the date from which the VSP work plan completion timeline will be calculated. The VSP statute requires a VSP work plan to be approved by the Director of the Conservation Commission within three years of the receipt of funding. RCW 36.70A.725(6). Attached for your review is a template contract for the VSP funding. Please review and let me know if you have any questions or would like any modifications.